North Korea to restart atomic reactor

In this undated file photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo by the Korea News Service , North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from left, walks during his visit to a military unit at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Photo: AP

The talks involving the Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan about ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme have been stalled since 2009.

Yongbyon had a stockpile estimated at 8,000 spent fuel rods in 2009, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. North Korea is thought to have used plutonium from the facility for nuclear test explosions in 2006 and 2009.

A third test in February, which led to the strengthening of international sanctions against the isolated Stalinist state, is thought to have used uranium according to some experts.

Pyongyang said on Tuesday it would also be restarting the uranium enrichment plant at Yongbyon, which it revealed in 2010.

Enriching plutonium requires a nuclear reactor, while uranium is enriched in centrifuges, which are relatively easy to conceal from international monitors.

North Korea’s arsenal is estimated at between two and nine warheads, armed with plutonium, according to the US-based Institute for Science and International Security.

Britain’s Chatham House puts the number at between 6 and 12.

KCNA said Tuesday that resuming enrichment at Yongbyon would boost the country’s electricity generation capability as well as its nuclear weapons programme.

The impoverished nation has a very limited power supply and suffers frequent power cuts.